Intel Cuts Core Ultra 7 200-Series CPU Prices by 25%

Intel has officially reduced the suggested retail prices of its Core Ultra 7 265K and 265KF Arrow Lake desktop CPUs by $100, bringing them down to $299 and $284, respectively, in an effort to boost sluggish sales amid strong competition from AMD. These price cuts, now reflected at major retailers, are intended to make Intel’s Core Ultra 7 series more appealing to gamers and creators, especially given Arrow Lake's underwhelming gaming performance compared to AMD's high-selling 9000X3D series. The new pricing aligns Intel's offerings more closely with AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X, though Intel's chips retain an advantage in non-gaming workloads due to higher core counts. Alongside the price reduction, Intel is bundling free games and software to further entice buyers. However, concerns remain regarding the high entry cost of Intel's LGA 1851 platform and its unclear future upgrade path, making AMD’s AM5 platform a potentially more future-proof choice for budget-conscious consumers. While this discount may be part of a promotional push rather than a permanent change, it signals Intel’s intent to regain competitiveness in the DIY desktop CPU market.